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It's done: Logan Mailloux has been traded. In the end, the defenseman headed for St. Louis… but not for Jordan Kyrou, as many had hoped.
That said, the Habs did get their hands on a nice piece in Zachary Bolduc. Our colleague Marc-Olivier Cook introduced him to you earlier today.
In 2024-25, Bolduc played his first year in the NHL. And before the 4 Nations Confrontation, the Québécois wasn't fully finding his stride, with just six goals and 12 assists in 46 games.
But clearly, the break did him good, as in his 26 post-4 Nations games, Bolduc scored 13 goals and 18 points. Playing with Robert Thomas obviously helped him get off the ground, and he was a big part of the Blues' late-season comeback.
And Bolduc's 13 goals made him the NHL's top rookie during that period. Alexandre Pratt talked about it on X.
Rookies with the most goals after the 4 Nations
1. Zachary Bolduc 13
2. Cutter Gauthier 11
3. Marco Kasper 10
3. Will Smith 10
3. Matvei Michkov 10– Alexandre Pratt (@alexandrepratt) July 1, 2025
Colleague Marc-Olivier Cook insisted that Bolduc has a good shot, and at the end of the season last year, we saw it clearly on the St. Louis side. We're talking about a guy who clearly showed at the end of the season last year that he's capable of being an important offensive element.
And it really makes you wonder if the Habs didn't acquire him to try and play him on the second line in place of Patrik Laine.
Subject to change, but Bolduc can be projected in the #CHs second line. He's a resolutely offensive player, a good skater with an excellent shot.
Bolduc – Dach – Demidov would be a first draft.
– Nicolas Cloutier (@NCloutierTVA) July 1, 2025
We know that Ivan Demidov is an excellent playmaker, and with a guy who has a shot like Bolduc's, there's a way to see a scenario in which the two connect well on the ice.
And if that doesn't work out, Bolduc on a third line is a nice luxury.
In Bolduc, then, the Habs are betting on a guy who showed some great things at the end of the season. We're banking on the youngster's potential… and on the fact that he could be a nice complement to Demidov in the immediate future.
He may not be the second center everyone's been hoping for, but he's still a great catch for the Habs.
extension
– A nice souvenir.
David Savard: “Ca va?
Zack Bolduc: “Aweille tabarnak!”
– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) July 1, 2025
– Still.
Last season
Caufield: 37 goals
Suzuki: 30 goals
Gallagher: 21 goals
Laine: 20 goals (in 52 games)
Bolduc : 19 goals (with St. Louis)
Slafkosvky: 18 goals– Guillaume Villemaire (@GVillemaire13) July 1, 2025
– Interesting.
I just got off the phone with Simon Gagné, who won the Memorial Cup with Zachary Bolduc:
“He has one of the best shots I've seen in a long time. He puts the puck where he wants it. His one-timer is ultra-efficient. A good skater. He's also a guy with character who..
– Anthony Martineau (@Antho_Martineau) July 1, 2025
